Chicago Spire Fordham Tower, Proposed Tallest Building in North America, Approved by City of Chicago

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The Chicago City Council approved a zoning change Wednesday May 9, 2007 which gives the O.K. for construction of the 2,000-foot, twisting Chicago Spire designed by architect Santiago Calatrava. The Chicago Park District also approved transfer of two parcels on the north bank of the Chicago River to be used for construction staging.

The 150-story Fordham Tower will be taller than the 1,451-foot Sears Tower and will be the tallest building in North America and the tallest all-residential building in the world. The Fordham Tower spire will be taller than New York’s 1,776-foot Freedom Tower, currently under construction at the former World Trade Center site.

The Fordham Tower, which will be located near the intersection of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan at 400 North Lake Shore Drive [MAP1/MAP2/SAT1/SAT2], will feature a four-story transparent glass lobby and 1,200 residences, according to developers Shelbourne Development Ltd. of Dublin, Ireland. The NBC Tower, the AON Center (across the Chicago River), Northwestern University Chicago, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, North Pier, and Navy Pier are located near the proposed Chicago Spire Fordham Tower.

“The Chicago Spire will be the world’s most celebrated address” said Garrett Kelleher, the executive chairman of Shelbourne.

Financial details remain unexplained for the project, but experts estimate it will cost more than $2 billion.


Video of part of Santiago Calatrava’s presentation at the Chicago Plan Commision meeting on April 19, 2007 weeks before approval (Latoso58).

Santiago Calatrava, Spanish-born architect also designed the Athens Olympic sports complex and the Milwaukee Art Museum addition.

Construction is scheduled to be completed by late 2010.

Other Landmark High Rises
World’s tallest building currently: Taipei 101 tower in Taiwan … 1,671 feet and 101 floors.

World’s tallest building when finished:  Dubai currently under construction … 2,300 feet plus and more than 160 floors.

More Info:
thechicagospire.com
Fordham Company | Fordham Tower
Santiago Calatrava (official site)
Shelbourne Development (official site)


A composite of photos of the Chicago Spire Fordham Tower (weirdalfan27).

Keyword(s): Fordham Spire

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